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Sunday, December 15, 2019

Losing a loved one is the hardest and most painful realities of life. It is something that we cannot control nor even predict. There is no cure or medication to ease the pain. For most of us, only time can heal the wounds.

Losing your spouse, parents, children or anyone from your family may be the most challenging since aside from the emotional loss, confusion, and grief, there are a lot of practical decisions that you have to make. There is paperwork that needs to be fixed including hospital bills that need to be settled. Just imagine you have to do this in just a few hours despite the fact that you just want to lay down and cry.

So, the big question is how can you prepare for this? How can you make it easier for you and your family?

No one can be fully prepared about death but let me share some tips on what you can do:

1. Talk about it - Though the topic of death may be taboo for the majority, it is just practical to discuss it with your family. The concept of "The Bucket List" is a good way to start the discussion. Talk about the things that you want to do or achieve before you pass on. Later, you can also share the things that you want in case something happens to you.

Giving them the direction on how you want things to be done will give them comfort as they follow your lead. It is easier for the surviving family to think that they have granted your final wishes and preferences.

2. Tax and Estate Planning - This is not just for wealthy families but also for middle-earners or investors who are very keen on planning their family's future. Some of the reasons why you should consider estate planning are the following:

Protection for your children. Making sure that it goes to the right person or the appropriate trustee is assigned.

Avoids family conflicts. Whether we admit it or not, family disputes arise when money is involved. Much more huge amounts from inheritance.

Minimize cost and taxes. Tax and Estate Planning helps you minimize cost and taxes when transferring the estate or property.

3. Know where you can get support and guidance on what needs to be done - when you feel lost or overwhelmed what you do, find a service provider that can assist you in making funeral and burial arrangements. In Bacolod, there is a company that stands out among service providers because they provide excellent customer engagement whose main goal is to make things easier for their clients in their moment of grief.Teresa Development Corporation has been in the business for more than 50 years.According to TDC's funeral director, Albert S. Montelibano they understand that their clients are anxious, worry a lot and don't know what to do. Thus, TDC will help you throughout the whole process such as processing death certificates, provide guidance on what do to before and during the wake, etc. TDC ensures detailed assistance, guidance in all the preparations and the promise to make things easier for their clients.

4. Check your options and make practical decisions

As mentioned, one cannot be fully prepared to die but there are things that we can decide as early as now such as:

Should I get a memorial life plan?

Do you consider cremation or would you like the traditional way?

Where would you like your final resting place to do be? (This is true for those who reside in a new city but most of their family is in the province.)

Personally, I have believed that the land is for the living and thus, I personally prefer cremation and then they, can just scatter my ashes in the forest or throw it in the sea but Val's question hit me hard. "Mommy, what if I miss you so much and want to visit you?"

To be honest, I had no answer until I learned about TDC's newest project, Christ the Redeemer Columbarium Complex. It is the perfect place where they can store the ashes of your departed loved ones. And this is not just your typical columbarium, it will have viewing chapels, a restaurant, beautiful lobby, high ceilings, etc.

In this way, families can celebrate life in style. They can visit and celebrate the life of their dear loved one who passed away in style and comfort. Here's a sneak peek on what you can expect from the Christ the Redeemer Columbarium Complex.

The Amethyst features the vault where urns will be placed.

The family suite features a family room, restroom, and kitchenette for those who want more privacy.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Christmas is definitely my favorite time of the year ever since I was a child. The food, time off from school and the gifts that we give and receive just make the season festive, happy and memorable.

As children, the joy and excitement we feel during the Christmas season can be encapsulated in one word: aguinaldo. The term refers to gifts received, specifically, during the holidays. As grown-ups, we find ourselves on the other side of giving with younger relatives now expecting their presents from us. However, no matter how old we are, there is always a child within us who is giddy with happiness when we receive an aguinaldo. - (I am totally guilty!)

Thus, I was very excited when I heard about the Dunkin’ Donuts Aguinaldo In Every Cup promo. This holiday season, you can have that “just got a gift” feeling every day with the Dunkin’ Donuts. Every time you purchase one 12-ounce cup of hot or iced Dunkin’ Coffee, you have a chance to instantly win a Free Classic Donut or cash — P500, P1,000, P5,000, and for the lucky ones who will surely have a Merry Christmas, P20,000.

To get your Aguinaldo, peel the perforated coupon found on the side of your Dunkin’ Coffee cup that says “Open your Holiday Surprise!” and “Peel Here.” It’s best to do this after finishing your drink because the excitement might make you spill it.

Your Aguinaldo is waiting for you in any of your Dunkin’ Coffee favorites like Dunkin’ Brewed Coffee, Dunkin’ Black Iced Coffee, or Dunkin’ Iced Coffee.

So, are you ready for some Christmas feels? Then get your Dunkin’ Donuts Aguinaldo In Every Cup from now until December 15, 2019, only.

Friday, December 6, 2019

Dental care is considered one of the most important health concerns among children. It is imperative that parents make sure that their kids are receiving adequate attention and that good oral hygiene is observed.

One of the biggest mistakes and beliefs is that they can neglect dental care because it's not yet permanent. They think it's okay because eventually, they will just lose their milk teeth. We have to debunk this belief and here are 5 things you need to know about brushing your toddler's teeth.

1. When do you start?

As early as 18 months, children must start brushing their teeth. It is recommended that you start brushing your child's teeth as soon as the first tooth appears.

2. What toothbrush should I use?

There is a small, soft toothbrush that is designed for kids 2 years old and below. It is ideal that you use this to make sure that you don't brush too hard and damage his/ her gums.

3. Can they use a toothpaste? If yes, how much?

Yes, they can use toothpaste made especially for kids. Also, keep in mind not to put too much toothpaste. You can start using a pea-sized amount only.

4. How often should I brush my child's teeth?

It is recommended that you brush your child's teeth at least twice a day. Ideally, once in the morning and the other before bedtime.

5. How can make my toddler brush his teeth without the tears?

In order to avoid tantrums and tears while brushing, make sure to use kid-approved toothpaste just like Hapee Kiddie toothpaste. It tastes good, very effective and has the right amount of flouride. No wonder this is a perfect bonding moment for moms and kids.

Brush time has never been more exciting with Hapee Kiddie and its range of delicious flavors and colorful characters. I have never had a problem with Lucas whenever I remind him to brush his teeth. In fact, he's excited to brush his teeth because he loves the Hapee Kiddie Toothpaste Cookies and Cream Flavor.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Customers are in for a treat as Samsung offers its ‘Weekend Token Promo.’ wherein those who purchase a 256 GB variant of the Galaxy Note10 or Note10+ from November 8 to 10 will receive a token worth PHP 3,000 and PHP 5,000, respectively.

Customers can use the token to purchase any Samsung device—smartphones, tablets, and wearables, among others — including their new Note10 or Note10+ unit.

The token is given on top of any bundle promotion the store may have. It can only be used in the same retail outlet and must be used on the same day of purchase. Consumers can also pay for the new Note series for up to 24 months with 0% interest or through the Trade In-Trade Up program (available in selected Samsung Experience stores)

Personally, I am flying from Bacolod to attend this event and let me share with you five (5) reasons why you shouldn't miss it.

1. Meet and Greet International and Filipino speakers - There will be over 20 speakers from the Philippines and the different parts of the globe such as Singapore, Malaysia, India, UAE, U.S.A, and Canada.

Some of the speakers will include highly sought-after
speaker and bestselling author of the book, Jayson Lo, African-American Author, known as the “Creative Director for Entrepreneurs”, Christopher Hines, Bestselling Author and High-Performance Business Coach, Sangeeta Shankaran
Sumesh, The Global Nomad Leadership Coach, Kevin Cottam, Global Conference Speaker and
Author, Jonathan Low and a whole lot more.

2. Be Inspired - According to Sha Nacino, the founder of The 90-Day Book Writing Challenge™ and the Global Authors Summit™,“The event is the perfect opportunity for authors and aspiring authors to gain inspiration, tips, and knowledge so that you, too, can write your own book.”

The speakers will share their personal journey and reasons for writing their own books.

3. Expand your Network - The event will be attended by 500-600 local
and international delegates. It is also
a great venue to network and meet the other stakeholders of the book and
publishing industry.

INSIDER TIP: There is an actual networking break included in the program so, you can truly interact with your fellow authors and other participants.

4. Discounted Books and Signed Copies - There will be a mini-book fair at the event venue where you can score books at great discounts. You may even have them signed by the authors themselves. :)

INSIDER TIP: Get first dibs on newly launched books. Some are not even available in the market yet.

5. Giveaway - I have 10 extra GA tickets worth Php 2,000 each that I can share with my readers. I will be giving these (2 tickets each) to the first 5 individuals who will send a message at My Metro Lifestyle's FB page. Please be sure to like and follow our FB page.

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If you'd like to learn more about the event, visit www.GlobalAuthorsSummit.com or contact 0915-6229212.
Early Bird Rate and Special Student Rate are available until November 6, 2019.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Our favorite Japanese global apparel retailer, UNIQLO is opening its 60th store in the Philippines and it will be the 2nd branch in Bacolod. It is located on the ground floor of the Ayala Malls Capitol Central near the main entrance of the mall.

The new store will showcase the complete line up of Uniqlo Lifewear including 2019 Fall/ Winter collection featuring new and on-trend styles for the cold season; and essentials such as U Crew Neck t-shirts, EZY jeans, ankle pants, DRY-EX, our favorite Airism and loungewear collections.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Transcom Worldwide Philippines offered its employees a world-class Musicfest dubbed as Tunog Transcom Tayo. Now in its second year, the event was conducted in three different venues to allow employees from Transcom's different sites all over the country to take part in the celebration.

For Bacolod, Tunog Transcom Tayo was held at the SMX Convention Center last September 22. The event was graced by live performances from popular bands such as Ebe Dancel, Mayonnaise and This Band.

The "Batang 90s" enjoyed old-time favorites such as Hari ng Sablay, Ipagtawad mo, and Laklak while the millennials had a blast with This Band's performance featuring songs such as Kahit Ayaw Mo Na and Di Na Babalik.

It was indeed a night of fun and entertainment exclusive to Transcom employees and their family and friends. According to Mark Lyndsell, Transcom's CEO for Global English Region, "As we have been transforming our business in the recent years, creating a positive culture where our folks can express themselves has been and continues to be a key focus. Tunog Transcom Tayo, our annual MusicFest, is just one building block in the foundation that is Transcom Tayo and sits alongside our annual CSR activities, our support for the LGBTQ community, and our HIV and AIDS awareness campaign."

Aside from the live performances, the event also included the finals of the Viral Voice competition. It is a Karaoke-inspired signing contest which is open to all Transcom employees. Paulo Malijan was hailed as the Viral Voice's champion where he bagged Php 20,000 cash, a trophy, and other prizes.

As a former Transcom and BPO employee, we truly appreciate events like this because it gives us the opportunity to unwind and have fun with our friends and families.

Working in a call center is not easy but having a positive culture in the workplace gets the job done while allowing ourselves to grow personally and professionally. If you are thinking of joining the BPO industry, here are some great perks and benefits that you can consider.

Aside from the competitive pay and usual benefits, they also provide:

Childcare Services

Scholarship Programs

In-house Pharmacy

Retirement Benefits and Mutual Funds

Free Meals

Post-paid Mobile Plan

Medical Benefits

Be a part of this amazing company. You may send your application through their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/TranscomPHBacolod or you may visit their site at Transcom Building 1, Old Lopue's South Sq., Araneta St., Brgy. Tangub, Bacolod City.

The
Asian Diabetes Prevention Initiative says that 60% of diabetics living in Asia,
and without further lifestyle changes that number may soon be on the rise.
Diabetes isn't the only disease related to diet: depending on what you eat, you
may be at risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, dental disease, and
osteoporosis. In order to avoid these, the best thing to do is to be more
mindful of what you eat. Maintaining a healthy diet reduces your risk for these
diseases and more, and keeps you healthier overall.

According
to the 2016 Healthy Living Index Survey, 46% of Filipinos lack sleep. This
makes the Philippines among one of the most sleep-deprived in the region.
Getting enough hours of sleep is about more than just comfort: healthy sleeping
habits lead to better concentration and productivity, a reduced chance of
obesity, and a reduced chance of depression. So make sure you get those hours
in!

Get
Checked More Often

Another way to keep on top of your own health
is to make sure that you're seeing the right professionals. Getting regular
check-ups increases the chances of early detection, meaning that you can nip
diseases in the bud with early and proper treatment. Your doctor can also
provide you with a better nutrition or exercise plan, one that's tailored to
your state of health. While the added costs of regular check-ups may seem like
a hassle, you'll find that they'll pay off in the long run.

Invest
in Health Insurance

Finally, one of the best ways to invest in
your health is to simply invest in health insurance. Even with the best
preparations, accidents or sudden illnesses can still happen, and when they do
it's best to be prepared. If you aren't sure where or how to start, Paramount
Direct has a guide on how to pick the best health insurance for young
professionals. It's a comprehensive look at the common questions you might
have about health insurance, as well as information about pricing and coverage.

Monday, September 16, 2019

There comes a time in your life that you have to stand up and say, “Enough is enough.” And that’s the day when you decide to change your life for the better. Who doesn’t want to become accomplished? Even the “gifted” and brilliant ones have to pay the price so as to realize their goals in life.

When we fail to eat on time, get enough exercise or sleep between seven to nine hours a day, we’re compromising our health and wellness as we reduce the maximum extent that our body must function. Consequently, the effects in our body may extend and manifest as early warning signs of hair loss.

Take it from celebrity beauty and salon expert Fanny “TF” Serrano, who once personally experienced such an ordeal. For him, avoiding harsh synthetic solutions and choosing to use the right products with natural ingredients is a must and still the best way to deal with mane problems like losing or thinning of the hair.

With this in mind, embracing natural healthy lifestyle is so important to achieve optimal health, best physical condition and healthy full head of hair. Health products made out of natural ingredients are way effective for better healing and maintaining our body’s lifelong function than those of synthetic ones. Rather than investing in those branded shampoos or other hair treatments, there’s a natural way to help arrest hair loss and help remedy its four early symptoms, namely, excessive hair shedding, thinning hair, receding hairline, and bald patches. This is none other than NOVUHAIR, nature’s answer to hair loss.

Watch this video of Abby Asistio

By the way, here’s a special promo exclusive at all participating Watsons stores nationwide.

For every purchase of NOVUHAIR 3-in-1 pack at P5,280, you’ll get one 200ml. bottle of NOVUHAIR Herbal Shampoo worth P1,100 for FREE! That’s 21% savings!

Monday, September 2, 2019

Do you want to inspire more people to adopt the attitude of gratitude?

We have always believed that GRATITUDE is a way of life and the key to happiness. Thus, a global movement on GRATITUDE will kick off on September 21, 2019, during the World Gratitude Day. It aims to inspire and encourage individuals to start adopting the attitude of gratitude. As part of the initiative, the search is now on for GRATITUDE AMBASSADORS all over the world who's willing to:

Adopt the attitude of Gratitude in your personal and professional lives

Actively share the message of gratitude in your social media accounts and email newsletters

Invite family and friends to join the WORLD GRATITUDE SUMMIT

Inspire others to be more grateful through your examples.

As a GRATITUDE AMBASSADOR, selected individuals will be eligible for the following:

Recognition and title of World Gratitude Ambassador (for your country/state) - We will be sending an official poster/ badge that you can use.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The National Citizen's Complaints Hotline, also known as Hotline 8888 was launched last August 1, 2016. One will be able to access them via email or call using their home and mobile phones. It is free of charge for PLDT and Smart/ Sun subscribers while there is a Php 5 charge for Globe subscribers. Since I am a Globe subscriber and do not want to incur additional charges, I opted to contact them via email at email@contactcenterngbayan.gov.ph

If you are wondering if our complaints against the government have finally stopped from falling on deaf ears, let me share with you a personal experience with the Citizen's Complaints Hotline.

This is not the first time I had encountered problems with Philpost or the Philippine Postal Service. In 2015, a friend from the US sent me an audio CD. I paid Php 100 for "taxes" but was surprised that my parcel was actually empty. My friend told me that she is 100% sure that she was able to send them but it has simply gone into thin air just like magic. I tried to raise my concern but they said they could not answer me.

Early last year, I signed up but with Procter and Gamble's Everyday Me program - a sampling site for the latest P&G products. I was lucky to get some samples but most of the time the samples that they send do not reach me, I contacted customer support and was told that it was shipped via our local post office and we can simply get in touch with them to follow-up. I called my local post office and said they would check. Tried this multiple times but I just got tired and never got them. I simply gave up.

Then, last July 22. AIP sent me GCs as a reward for participating in their surveys and to my dismay. It was not delivered to me again. It was sent last July 22 and should be delivered in 1-2 weeks. After the second week of waiting, I called our local post office and asked for the status. I provided them my reference number (since this is a registered mail) but they said they have no record of it. I was advised to call again when the delivery man is in the office to check the status only to be told that they do not have a record of it. I was advised to call back again after a few days to check if this mail has been forwarded to them. After multiple calls (more than 20), I was informed that nothing was forwarded to them and I need to check with the sender or the post office where the mail was sent.

Since my mail was from Cebu and it would be really hard to follow-up with them, I decided to ask help from Hotline 8888.

Here is the timeline of what happened:

10.03.16 - I sent an email to Contact Center ng Bayan asking for their help.

10.04.16 - They acknowledged my email and gave me a reference number.

11.10.16 - I received an email from the Cebu Central Post Office asking for more details about my complaint.

I had a series of email exchanges with Cebu PO. I was informed that my concern will be forwarded to a different post office in Cebu where my mail was processed. Honestly, by this time, I have lost interest in my missing parcel. It was not really that valuable that I can just let it go. Though inside of me, I feel that it is our right to have decent postal service in the country. With the rising age of e-commerce, it is about time that we have a reliable and trusted postal service from the government.

12.29.16 - I was surprised to get an email with a very long attachment. As you can see, it has been 3 months since I sent my initial complaint. I thought they have forgotten about my complaint or my concern was never forwarded to the other post office.

But I was wrong. During these times that I did not hear from them, I am so happy to say that my/ our government is working. Here are the other things that happened:

11.14.16 - This is the last day of my email exchange with the Cebu Central Post Office and Mr. Potian immediately sent a letter to Mandaue Central Post Office regarding my concern and sent them all the information that I have provided to them.

11.17.16 - Mandaue PO sent an email that this has been forwarded to Bacolod PO and they provided waybill number and other proof that it was indeed forwarded to my local post office.

11.29.16 - Civil Service Commission wrote to the Acting Postal Area Director regarding my complaint to follow-up and to ask them to act on this matter and requesting for feedback in 5 days after receipt.

12.01.16 - A report to the Department Manager for Central and Eastern Visayas regarding my complaint including the results of their investigation was submitted.

12.28.16 - A certification was issued about the status of my lost mail which I can use once I go to Bacolod PO. I need this because for the longest time they have been telling me that no mail reached them.

12.29.16 - I receive all these updates about my complaint.

- case closed -

It may take a lot of time to get a resolution but I am glad someone is acting on these complaints no matter how small or big it is. After a few days, I was notified by the sender that they got a returned mail and that they would resend my missing mail.

Coincidence? I do not think so. I think they have to do something about my missing mail because finally, the government has stopped being blind and deaf on all of these inefficiencies and complaints from ordinary citizens. These irregularities are no longer tolerated and it is about time that we are all treated as first-class Filipinos.

So, if you think you have issues or suggestions, don't hesitate to contact hotline 8888. They are very helpful and they are really working.